Prajwal Revanna is now in trouble in the police custody case for possession and use of a phone in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna. Revanna and his co-accused Pratap Rai have now been arrested by the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court.
The court has remanded both of them to 14 days of judicial custody, and the investigation has moved on after the recent news about the possession and use of a phone in the prison has been confirmed by earlier reports. The court had granted them police custody for two days so detectives could question them.
The case stems from a surprise search conducted by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on August 11, 2023. At the time of the search, Revanna's Android mobile phone was found. Another inmate, Pratap Rai, was also found with a mobile phone. After this discovery, a case was filed at the Parappana Agrahara police station. Revanna was accused number two and Pratap Rai number 1.
The alleged discovery of the mobile phone has raised serious questions about security arrangements inside the high-security prison. Mobile phones and other devices cannot be inside prison premises unless specifically authorised under applicable rules. Investigators are exploring how the device allegedly reached Revanna, who supplied it, how it was being used and whether anyone inside or outside the prison helped facilitate its use.
Police had sought custody of Revanna and Rai after getting a body warrant and presented them to the 42nd ACJM court on September 8. The court granted two days of police custody for further questioning, but investigators were particularly interested in investigating the source of the phone and, according to reports, who might have assisted with bringing the device to the prison. The investigation was also looking into whether prison staff or other people were involved in unauthorised communication.
New reports on the seized phone have added another layer to the case. Police found applications on the phone such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Netflix and Prime Video, and other phone apps, the police said. The existence of various communication and entertainment apps on the phone has raised questions about how Revanna may have used it while in prison. The police are also looking at the digital evidence and other evidence recovered in the prison search.
Investigators are also looking at Revanna's alleged communications from inside the prison, according to the case. According to the report, he admitted to calling his father, H.D. Revanna and mother, Bhavani Revanna, from the prison, while he maintained that he only made one such call. Obviously, these are part of the investigation and will have to be established based on evidence and the legal process.
The police are also waiting for forensic examination reports. Once FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) data is available, they will seek further custody if needed; they say they will be able to pursue further investigation. This digital evidence could help investigators determine how the phone was used, what communication took place and whether other people were involved.
The legal provisions used in the case include section 42 of the Karnataka Prisons (Amendment) Act, 2022, for possession of mobile phones or communication devices in prison premises, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on prohibited articles in prison. The case therefore involves not only unauthorised phone use but also questions about how prohibited electronic devices entered a secure correctional facility.
Revanna is now in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison after a separate rape case was convicted. In August 2025, a Bengaluru special court convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment. His current detention is therefore before the mobile phone investigation, which is being treated as a separate case with respect to alleged violations inside the prison.
The judicial custody order means that the investigation into the alleged prison phone use will continue while Revanna and Rai remain in custody. Police will analyse the seized device, check digital records, verify communications and investigate the chain through which the phone allegedly entered the prison.
The case has also raised wider security issues at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. Prison searches for mobile phones have also taken place, and some people who may have helped to bypass security procedures have been recovering them. But authorities are investigating if the incident was an isolated one or if it is part of a larger network in and around the prison.
The allegations against Revanna and Rai are being investigated and are judicial in nature. The court’s decision to send them to 14 days of judicial custody after the initial two-day police inquiry follows the end of the police investigation. Forensic investigators are still examining the forensic and digital evidence and will decide if further questioning is needed or whether to pursue further legal action.
